TimS comments on Nonmindkilling open questions - Less Wrong

22 Post author: Yvain 23 March 2012 04:23PM

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Comment author: TimS 23 March 2012 07:06:11PM 1 point [-]

Many of these sorts of questions (both broad economic and political outcome type questions) have obvious political implications. Thus, they are likely to be very mind-killing.

Comment author: komponisto 23 March 2012 07:31:10PM 6 points [-]

Without doubt, so one would have to choose carefully.

That said, I would expect that, even on the most politically charged topics, people would be more comfortable with uncertainty regarding predictions than regarding other beliefs. For example, it's probably easier to have a mentally nonlethal discussion about whether Obama will be re-elected than one about whether he should be.

Comment author: TimS 23 March 2012 08:53:40PM *  1 point [-]

Easier - yes.

Actually easy to have that conversation without mind-killing - in many cases, probably not.

Comment author: komponisto 23 March 2012 09:54:59PM 0 points [-]

Agreed.

Comment author: juliawise 24 March 2012 05:04:19PM *  2 points [-]

That's exactly the kind of questions the Good Judgement Project is asking, but only about events in other nations. I don't think most Americans care much about who will be elected president of the Philippines or whether peace talks between x and y nations will resume before May 1st.